InterAksyon – Senate panel consults Tawi-Tawi execs on Bangsamoro law

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the Senate Committee on Local Governments have gone to Tawi-Tawi to consult local officials in connection with the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that will establish a political entity under Senate Bill No. 2408 to replace the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chair of the committee, said that his panel is to conduct a public hearing in Tawi Tawi Tuesday Nov. 11, on the proposed law.

The hearing, expected to adjourn by mid-afternoon, will be held at Sandbar Convention Center in Barangay Pasiagan, Bongao, Tawi Tawi.

Among the invited resource persons are Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer, chair of the Government Panel in the Peace negotiation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front; Rep. Ruby M. Sahali, lone district of Tawi Tawi; Governor Norbert Sahali and Vice Governor Michail Ahaja, Assemblyman Sulay Halipa of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Mayors Raheima Salih of Tandubas, Bonging Abdurahman of Simunol, other town chief executives, former local government officials and stakeholders from the private sector.

Senator Marcos has been holding public hearings in Mindanao on the nuts and bolts of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Tawi Tawi is the third leg of hearings, after Cotabato City last Oct. 8,. 2014 and Marawi City last Oct. 23.

Similar to the conduct of the two previous hearings, Marcos said, he will give adequate opportunities to the resource persons in Tawi Tawi to air their positions.